Monorail rolling-stock.



m. 7|7, 3 33.- Patente d Dec. 30, I902. .1. A. BURNS.

MDNUBAIL ROLLING STUCK.

(Application filed Apr. 29, 1902.)

3$heets-Sheet i.

(No Model.)

Patented Dec. 30,1902. J. A. BURNS. MONORAIL ROLLING STOCK.

(No Model.)

(Application filed Apr. 29, 1902.)

3 Sheets-$haet 2.

Jnverutov Jim/715k);

alumna *No. 7|7,33a. Phtefited Dec. 30, I902.

. J. A. BURNS.

MUN'URAIL ROLLING STUCK.

Ayplication filed Apr. 29, 1902.)

3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

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J QHN ALEXANDER BURNS, OF NEW YORK, Y.

MQNORA'IL. aotuae srooa.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 717,338, dated December 30, 1902. Application filed April 29, 1902. Serial No. 105.216. (No modely To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN ALEXANDER BURNS, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented new and ,useful Improvements in Monorail Rolling-Stock, of which the following is a I specification.

or monorail railwaysin are provided with centrally-alined wheels,

. large proportion of the strain which would frail vehicle having justing the same to porting frame or truck,

i be present if the body or containing receptacle of the vehicle was immovable.

A further object oi the invention isto provide the car-body or containing-receptacle with simple means for attachment of a draftanimal or application of manual power which is so constructed and operative as to counteract any tendency toward upward or downward movement of 'thesaid' means and also to adjust the latter proportionately to the size of the animal, the weight of the load, and the position of the body in relation to its sup so as to equalize the weight resistance of the load relatively to the weight of the draft-animator the manual 0perating-power employed to propel the vehicle.

The invention, broadly stated, consists in supporting means having centrally alined wheels to engage a single tracka'aih a body or containing device pivptally mounted at I one end on the said means and adjustable laterally at its opposite extremity to balance.

the load, and mechanism for effecting the adjustment.

The invention further consists in a monomeans for laterally adbalance the load: and a vertically -adjustable steadying attachment for connection of a draft-animal or the application of manual propelling-power.

The invention further consists in the contion of the car-wheels.

struction and arrangement ofthe several parts in detail, which will be more fully hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a monorail vehicle or car embodying the features of the invention. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same. Fig; 3 is an end elevation thereof. Fig. 4. is an enlarged front elevation of one of the end castings or sup porting means for the wheel located at opposi te ends of the vehicle or car and also illustrating means for adjusting the car-body and the steadying or propelling device. Fig. dis aside elevation of the devices shown by Fig.

4:. Fig. 6 is a detail enlarged elevation of one of the steadying-arms and a portion of the steadying-frame. Fig. 7 is an edge elevation ot the devices shown in Fig. 6. Fig. 8 isa top plan View of a modified form of the car. Fig. 9 is an end elevation pf the car or vehicle shown by Fig. 8.

Similar numerals of reference are employed to indicate corresponding parts in the several views.

The truck consists- 1 and 2, disposed in central alinement to en gage a single track-rail 3 and having suspended from them the irame 4, which is made up of two lengths 5 of channel or other suitable form of iron firmly bolted at their terminals to end cast pieces or supports 6, having central bearings 7 to receive the axles of' the wheels. lhe cast pieces or supports 6 are spaced apart from each-other and have the wheelsl and 2 mounted between them, or, in other words, it is proposed to construct these cast pieces or supports in suchinanner as to permit the car-wheels to be disposed therein.

There are-a number of methods of constructing the said pieces or supports 6, and they may be made in either one or two pieces; but for cheapness and expeditionin manufacture it is preferred that they be cast in one piece, with an opening theret'hrough for the: recep These castpieces or supports may be replaced by wrought-iron work arranged to effectively bind the lengths 5 of the frame 4. The lengths5 of the frame 4 are converged at their forward ends toward the cast pieces or supports 6 5 but fora greater portion of their extent they are disposed parallel and connected near one end by a transof. two grooved wheels verse stay 8. Should the nature of the work to be done require it, the frame 4 may be ear At each end of the frame is :5 mental rack 12, held in fixed position and engaged by a pinion 13, mounted on the adjacent end of the body orreceptacle 10. The pinion 13 freely rotates on a stub-shaft 14, secured to the body or receptacle at the 2d center, and also movably mounted on the said stub-shaft is a n adjusting-lever 15, carrying a dog 16 to engage the teeth of the pinion 13 for rotating the latter. in opposite directions to thereby shift the body or containing-receptacle over the frame as may be desired. The

adjustment of the car-body or containing-receptacle is effected radially in relation to the pivot 11, and by this'means it will be understood that the car-body or containing-recep- 3o tacle can be brought toa balance when loaded. For the purpose of steadying the car when in motion and also to provide means for moving it laterally-projecting arms 17 are employed, one at each end of the truck or receptacle. As clearly shown by Fig. 4, these arms are removably and adjustably secured attheir inner extremities to the face plates or pieces 9, and for this purpose each late or piece at the upper portion near opposite '40 side edges is formed-with a series of openings 18, disposed in curved aliuement for the removable reception of bolts 19, passed therethrough and secured to the inner extremities .of the arms 17. It will be seen that the arms 17 may be raised or lowered to accommodate different contingencies, such as a variation in height of draft-animals or varying elevations at which it is desired to apply manual power for propelling the car, as wellas steadying the same in its movements. At the centers' of the outer terminals of the cast pieces or supports 6 rings or hooks 20 are secured andha've the inner terminals of brace-rods 21 attached thereto, the outer ends of said rods being'detachably secured to the outer terminals of the arms17. Between the arms 17 asteadying-frame 22 is detachably mounted and comprises opposite horizontally-disposed parallel rods or bars 23, elevated above the pla ve of the top of the body 10 and having th ir opposite extremities 24 directed down ,ardly and forwardly at an angle of inclination, the extremities'24 of the. rods or bars at each end being converged toward a yoke 25, having a lower bifurcated extremity 26, in which the upper end of a connector 27 is held by a bolt 28, the said connector being movably mounted on a fulcrum-support 29,

projecting inwardly from the outer end of v the arm in each instance and radially with rangement of the steadying-frame set forth permits the draft-animal to be reversed or to travel in opposite directions, and the arms 17 may be projected laterally from either side of the car.

In Figs. 8 and 9 amod-ified form of the car is shown, This modified construction refers particularly to means for adjusting the arms connected to the steadying-frame. body 31 is supported on a frame 32, substantially similar to the frame 4, heretofore described, and having connected end supports 33, spaced apart from each other and provided with central bearings 34 for the stubshaft of grooved wheels 35, arranged in longitudinal alinement, The end supports 33 have end attaching members 36, and secured to the inner portions thereof adjacent to the body 31 are inverted-V-shaped uprights 37. The body 31 can be arranged to move laterally over the 1 frame similar to the body 10, heretofore described, or it may be fixed on said frame, thus indicating that the steadyingframe, as heretofore described and which will be presently referred to, may be equally well'employed withan adjustable body or The cartoo with a fixed body. Adjustably extending outwardly from the uprights 37 are. arms 38,

side of the car-body and'similarly adjusted.

Each end member 36 has the inner end of.a brace-rod 41 adjustably connected thereto, the outer'end of said rod being attached to the outer terminal of the arm, and thereby reinforce or strengthen the arm and at the same time distribute the draft-power. Movably rising from the outer ends of the arms 38 are uprights 42, which are pivotally held by the bolt or means for fastening the bracerods 41 and are secured at their upper ends to an elliptical yoke or steadying-frame 43, in which a draft-animal is disposed and attached by means of' books 44, extending inwardly from the pivotal points of the uprights 42. The upper end of one upright is dctachably secured to one end of the yoke 43 for convenience in placing the draft-animal in operative relation thereto.

The steadying-framedS may be thrown over either side of the car-body by detaching the brace-rods 41 and reapplying them after re versal is made, and in this reverse movement or adjustment a great advantage resides in View of the fact that the road-bed or path may be located more conveniently at opposite sides of the track-rail in different localities. In some instances it may be necessary to lay the track-rail close to an embankment or steep grade, and in such event it is obvious that the steadying-frame would have to be arranged on the outer side of the car-body or that side farthest from the said embankment or grade. Hence the provision for reversing tlie steadying-frame will adapt the improved car to this contingency and render it capable of general use without requiring a special arrangement of the track-rails to accommodate the car structure. This capability of adjustment or reversal can be pursued in both forms of the car shown, and in addition to the movable attachment of the steadying-frame, as well as the adjustment of the arms to raise and lower said frame, equips the improved car with means for meet ing various contingencies and conditions. The adjustment of the car-body or containing-receptacle in the manner set forth is also an essential feature of the present construction, as the load can be more nearly balanced in relation to the draft devices, the latter under such adjustment conju'nctively operating by their capability of adjustment to render the balancing of the same more effective.

In the operation of the car it will be understood that it will be propelled in Opposite directions over the single track-rail and the latter will be held down on the ground surface by any of the well-known or approved means.

Having thus fully described the invention, what is claimed as new is- 1. The combination with supporting means having longitudinally-disposed wheels adapted for a single track-rail, of a car-body pivotally mounted at one end and laterally movable at the opposite end over the said means, and draft devices located to one side of the body.

2. The combination with supporting means having longitudinally-disposed Wheels adapted for a single track, of a car-bod y pivotally connected to the said means at one end and laterally movable over the latter, and reversible draft devices normally located to one side of the body.

3. The combination with a truck or frame having longitudinally-disposed wheels adapted for a single track, of a car-body mounted on said truck or frame, and vertically-adjustable draft devices normally located to one side of the body.

4:. The combination with a truck or frame having longitudinally-disposed wheels adapted for a single track, of a car-body mounted and laterally movable on said truck or frame, and draft devices having an adjustable attachment and located to one side of the body, said draft devices including a steadyingframe which is movably attached.

5. A car of the class set forth having a vertically-adjustable draft device normally proj ected outwardly beyond one part of the body of the car and capable of being reversed to throw the same beyond either side of the car.

6. A car of the class set forth having verticallyadjustable draft devices including a movably-mounted steadying-frame, the said draft devices being normally located to one side of the body of the car.

7. In rolling-stock adapted for a single track-rail, the combination of a supporting means, and a body pivotally mounted at one end thereon and having adjusting means at the opposite ends.

8. In rolling-stock adapted for a single rail, the combination with a body, of pivotallymounted draft devices including a movablyattached steadying frame, and means for maintaining the draft devices in adjusted position.

9. In rolling-stock adapted for a single rail, the combination with a body, of draft devices pivotally attached for Vertical adjustment and also for reverse location on either side of the body.

10. In rolling-stock adapted for a single rail, the combination with a laterally-adj ustable body, of pivotally-mounted draft devices including a movably attached steadying= frame.

11. In rolling-stock adapted for a single rail, the combination with a movablymounted body, of pivotally-attached draft devices including a movably attached steadyingframe, the said draft devices and frame being projectible beyond either side of the body.

In testimony whereof I afflx my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOI-IN ALEXANDER BURNS.

Witnesses:

DANL. M. NOONAN, J. CAVANAGH. 

